Dispensing apparatus



y T. DE STEFAN! 2,247,575

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1938 4 Sheets-sheaf l 1975ATTORNEY.

y 1941- T. DE STEFAN! 2,247,575

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1938 4 Shee'ts-Sheet z 50 JulyJestefww INVENT OR.

A715 ATTORNEY.

July 1, 1941. 1- DE STEFAN] 2,247,575

DISPENSING APPARATUS H15 ATTORNEY.

DE STEFAN] DI SPEN S ING APPARATUS Filed March '25; 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet4 WW .7 Y

flefiefalw INVENTOR.

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Patented July 1 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFI E- DISPENSING APPARATUSTully De Stefani, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to TheBastian-Blessing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication March 25, 1938, Serial No. 198,155

8 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in dispensing apparatus,particularly of the coincontrolled variety, and includes'among itsimportant objects the provision of a dispensing machine adaptedparticularly to dispense a wide" variety of packaged items, includingmerchan- (rise in containers, such for example as packaged ice cream andvarious kinds of bottled goods ineluding beverages, milk and the like,there being, practically speaking, no restriction as to the nature ofthe merchandise or article to be vended other than that such article beof a unitary 'nature so that individual units, packages or conwithcooling means arranged closely adjacent an axial end of the magazinedrum and the drum being of an improved open-work or skeletonizedconstruction providing passage therethrough for cold air to bedistributed to the storage compartment for the purpose of precoolingcommodities in the latter. The construction of the magazine drum isfurther particularly adapted to distribute the cooling medium or airfrom the refrigerating system about the articles in the magazine in amost eificient manner. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of article-feedingmeans cooperable with the improved magazine drum for feeding articlesfrom the drum into position for movement toward a dispensing station oroutlet.

A further object is the provision of improved article ejecting ordispensing means cooperable with the drum magazine for automaticallyreleasing an article for dispensing movement into a discharge chute whensuch article reaches the aforesaid station or dispensing outlet,

Still another object resides in the arrangement of a magazine dispensingdrum of the type heretofore characterized for movement about a verticalaxis, with drive means arranged peripherally of the drum and adapted fordriving engagement with a manually operable control for advancing thedrum either freely, or in steps in a particular direction. v

Another object is the provision of a drum with a peripheral drive of thetype hereinbefore' characterized and means arranged at the'axial ends ofthe drum and mounting'the same for rotation in a manner to leave theregion at the axial ends of the drum substantially unobstructed, wherebystorage and refrigerating compartments may be provided adjacent oppositeends of the drum for the particular purpose and in the mannerhereinafter to be described.

Yet another object is the-arrangement-of a magazine drum in a dispensingcabinet with compartments at the axial ends of the drum, in the mannerhereinbefore characterized, a compartment at the lower end of the drumconstituting a precooling chamber and having removable deflecting meanspositioned above or on vendible articles therein, whereby to limit therate of heat transfer between said articles and the cooling medium.

A still further object is the provision of dispensing apparatus andcabinet means housing the same for the accomplishment of the objects.heretofore recited, and wherein there is additionally provided a heatexchange unit in a removable cabinetsection constituting a part of thehousing and removably seated above an axial nd of the magazine drum.

Certain details of the drum structure are described and claimed inapplicants copending U. S. application, Serial No. 198,157, whilecertain details of the dispensing structure cooperable with the drum aredescribed and claimed in my copending U. S. application, Serial No.198,156.

Additional objects include the provision of a cabinet or housingstructure especially adapted for cooperation with means foraccomplishing the several objects such as heretofore character ized, andin which there is a door structure providing access to the dispensingmechanism and having an open section through which an operating controlunit is arranged to project when the door is in .closed conditiomtherebeing a panel on the door movable into alignment with the control unitwhen the door is closed and including a novel discharge or dispensingchute and other means such as a cap puller and receiver or like meansfacilitating the immediate use or utilization of the article dispensed.

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention reside in certaindetails of construction, form, location and operation of the variousparts and arrangements hereinafter to be described.

' of one of the dispensing dollies;

of the shelf or tray If by bolt and.

2 such for example, as the construction and assembly of the partsconstituting the magazine drum and the means employed for mounting thesame; the particular arrangement of the heat exchange means relative tothe drum; the automatically tripping dolly means constituting a dis-Mounted above the shelf casting i8 isa canister it of semicylindricalshape, also forming part pensing support at the bottom of the drum forarticles stacked about the periphery of the latter; together with meansfor automatically feeding articles from higher levels of the stack ontothe dolly means, all of which'will appear more particularly as thefollowing description develops in view of the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevati paratus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the cabinetand dispensing mechanism, as viewed along line 3-4 of Fig. 1 v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec tion complementary to thesection of Fig. -3, showing the lower part of the cabinet structure anddispensing mechanism, omitted in Fig. 3, as

' the same would be viewed in the direction of line 4-4 of Fig. 11'

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the magazine drumwith the dollydispensing and peripheral drive means shown in plan,looking down along line H of Fig, 1

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spiderhanger or mountingbracket forthe magazine drum;

Fig. I is an enlarged vertical sectional detail Fig. 8.is a fragmentaryfront perspective of the dolly tripping means opposite the dispensingthrough a portion ofthe magazine drum and the article sustaining ledgeand ramp means down from above the flange I in Fig. 8; and

Fig. ll is'a perspective view of a temporary bridging strap to be placedon the dolly or car- 'riage trackway.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1,there is provided upstanding cabinet member I! surmounted by a removabledome section I! having a plurality of ventilating bellies ll arranged onits sides and communicating with the interior of the dome.

Mounted by suitable hinge means on the front wall of the cabinet is aclosure or doorili providlng access to the dispensing'mechanism and alsoconstituting a control panel. :Mounted in the lower region of the dooris a delivery panel section in the form of a casting bolted to the doorand having a horizontally extending shelf on of the dispensing apstationor discharge chute and also showing a bers I9.

of-a casting which is bolted to the door, and in which there is providedan opening ll into which the neck of a bottle or the like may beinserted for engagement with a de-capping device '28 (or otherinstrumentality facilitating the immediate use of the dispensedarticle), so that the cap of a carbonated beverage, for example, may beconveniently removed, the cap remaining in the canister and the latterhaving a bottom trap door 2] through which accumulated caps may beremoved (Fig. 4)

Above the canister I6 is a rectangular opening, the margins of which aretrimmed by a bezel or frame casting secured by any suitable means to astationary, vertically hanging faceplate i ll secured to the door framewithin the cabinet behind the door (see .also Figs. 3 and 5).

Projecting from behind the door through the frame-or bezel is a coincontrol unit 24, also having a semi-cylindrical front cover plate toconform the overall design to that of the canister It. In the top of thecontrol cover plate is a coin depository 29, there being a coin returnextended into respective door or gate members a and embracing thepintles to urge the doors into closed position. Each door is alsoprovided with an integral boss 22 adJacent its pivotal mounting andehgageable with the adjoining body portions of the basket structure toease of! the springurged closing movement of the individual door or gatemembers. As seen in Figs. 4 and 9, the foremost end portion of thereceiving basket I8 is provided with yieldable builer means 23constructed of some resilient material, such as sponge rubber or thelike, and adapted to soften the stopping engagement of the end of a.discharged" article or bottle descending thereagainst down the dischargechute and past the gate mem- The cabinet structure l2 of the presentembodiment of the invention is designed particularly for use withrefrigerating apparatus and is therefore constructed in accordance withapproved heat-insulating practices employed in the construction ofvrefrigerator cabinets and the like.

The upper end of thecabinet It, as seen particularly in Fig. 3, is openand provided-with a m top ledge'porti'on- 36 onto which is fittedthebotor tray ll (see also Figs. 4 and 9) which is hollow and whichextends outwardly from a discharge opening communicating from within thecabinet and normally closed by a pair of gates ordoors an annulus 23 ofsponge rubber or the like secured to the ou ermost vertical surfs ceportion 9 means 38 secured from within the shelf cast nsr tom panelportion 30 of .a refrigerating mechanism unit 31. there being a sealinggasket 88 interposed between the bottom support 36 and the ledge 38. r i

' The construction of the bottom support I. for the refrigerating unit31 is suchas to insulate the transfer of heat from one side of the sameto the other to prevent the heat developed by the refrigeratingmechanism from being-communicated to the main interior of the cabinet.The dome shell or removable top structure It is placed over therefrigerating unit 31 and rests along. edge portions 13' upon uppermostedge portions of the open top of the cabinet I! adjacent the ledgeportions ll, suitable'i'astening means being applied, where desired, toprevent unauthorized removal of the dome cover. the-weight the cover,however. being entirely adequate ,to main.

tain the same in mounted position. The baflles |4 supply adequatequantities of cooling air for the refrigerating mechanism, the latterbeing equipped with the customary cooling fan arrangement for effectingforced draft.

The refrigerating unit 31 may be of a type employing the usualcompressor 39 with a compression line 4|) communicating with a condenser4| discharging condensed refrigerant into a receiver 42. The refrigerantis fed into a delivery line 43 with a set of cooling or expansion coils44 arranged below the mounting base or bottom 36 centrally in the upperportion of the main cabinet chamber. a

Mounted by suitable means on the refrigerating unit base 38 is amotor-45 having a shaft 46 extending downwardly through the base with acirculating fan 41 rotatable thereby immediately above the cooling coils44 and adapted to circulate air downwardly into the cabinet.

The invention provides an improved drum type article magazine shown inpart in Fig. 3 and ineluding a plurality of circumferentially arrangedvertically extending magazine compartments 50 (see also Fig. formed by aplurality of adjacently positioned Y-shaped partition members 5| ofelongated'form' and preferably constructed of drawn metal so as to havea main partition portion 52 provided along its outer edge witharetaining flange 53, and along its opposite edge with divergentlycurved projections 54, each of which terminates in an offset mountingflange 55.

The simplified construction of the magazine drum provides for assemblingthe Y-shaped partition members 5| between a pair of annular end castingseach having a hub portion 56 (see also Fig. 3) with radial spokeelements 51 (Fig. 5) extending therefrom, the spokes of the upperbracket being offset upwardly near their respective end portions 58 forintegral engagement with a raised annular rim or flange 59, the spokesof the lower end plate terminating in an annular- Disposed incircumferentially spaced relation about the flange portions 59 and 59 ofthe drum end plate casting are a plurality of stud formations 60 havingslots cut therein to receivethe offset lug formations 55 of adjoiningpairs of partition-elements 5| at the opposite extremities of thelatter, so that the several partition members are held in assembledrelation as viewed in Figs. 3 or 5, for example, between the oppositeaxial end plates or castings, the latter .-being clamped togetherby aplurality of tie rods 8| threaded or otherwise mounted at theirrespecportion of the upper end casting of the drum below the annularflange or rim portion 59 thereof, the arm 69 having upwardly offsetportions 10 with lateral feet or projections 1| terminating in aperturedflanges 12, the latter resting upon brackets 1-3 (Fig.- 3) secured tothe inner wall portions of the cabinet adjacent the upper 'ledge portiontherein, the brackets 13 having lugs (not shown) which project into theapertures or slots in the flange portions 12 on the hanger .or spider toprevent the latter from shifting on its mounting.

The axle or shaft for the magazine drum extends downwardly through thelatter and is provided with a bearing member 16 secured v thereto by pinmeans -11 substantially at the level of the hub portion 56 of the lowerdrum mounting spider or casting, in such manner that the latter ridesfreely on the'bearing 16. (Observe that the reference character 56 inFig. 3 indicates the hub of the upper end plate casting;- while the hubof the lower casting is indicated at 56 in Figs. 4 and 5.)

At its lowermost extremity, the vertical shaft 65 rests in a stanchion18 secured in the bottom portion of the cabinet l2. Thus, the shaft 65is held stationary by the upper hanger or spider, the magazine drumrotating thereabou-t on the bearing means 56 and 16.

Below the lower drum end casting (Fig. 4), i

there is a stationary spoked track casting having a hub portion 8|embracing the shaft 55 and secured thereto by pin means 82 so as to beim'- movable, its weight resting on a collar 82 shrunk on the shaft. Thetrack casting 80 is of annular shape and has an annularly extendinghorizontal track portion 83 (see also lower part of Fig. 8)

tive opposite ends in spoke portions 51 of the castings, these tie rodsbeing drawn up so as to clamp the partition members securely in positionas aforesaid.

The novel magazine drum is rotatably mounted or journaled at its upperend on a vertical shaft 65 (Fig. 3) which extends upwardly through aroller bearing element 66 seated in the hub portion 56 of the upper endcasting or spider, so that the latter may turn freely upon the shaft,the

shaft extending a short distance upwardly of the bearing 66 andprojecting into the bore of the hub portion 61 of the hanger or mountingspider,

there being a set screw 68 in the hub portion 61 interrupted through ashort discharge portion 84 through its peripheral extent at a positionsubstanti'ally behind the inner mouth 85 of a discharge chute 86communicating-with, the discharge basket l-6 through the door escutcheonpanel heretofore described.

The track flange 83 is oifset at its terminal discharge portion 84 toprovide a resetting track portion 81 arranged in part of its length in asubstantially vertical plane and having a gradua ly curved portion 88descending back into a horizontal'plane inthe region 89 thereof, thetrack thereafter continuing in'its horizontally extending dispositionthrough the remainder of its circumferential length The several verticalmagazine pockets or com-- 9|! with depending spaced legs 9| (see a sothe dotted line representation of Fig. 8) between which are mountedrollers 92 providedwith roller bearing means 93. Each dolly has alaterally projecting arm 94 (Figs. 4 and 8) pivotally con-.

nected as at 95 between opposite flange portions of individual mountingbrackets 96 secured by screw means 91 to the under side of the annularflange portion 59 of the bottom drum castin at a position substantiallycorresponding to the vertical juncture line between adjoining magazinepartitions 5|, so that the platform portions 98 of the several dolliesprovide bottoms for the several magazine compartments.

Each of the dolly platform portions 90 is provided with a resilientcover preferably in the form of a rubber cap 88 stretched over the sameand having an annular internal flange portion 89 securing the same tothe under side of the platform. In addition, each rubber cap or bufierhas a diametric groove across its top surface, in which is seated ametal sliding strap lllll extendmg in a radial sense beneath thecorresponding magazine compartment. This arrangement provides arelatively soft landing for the descending bottle, yet the metal strapalso provides a smooth gliding surface which facilitates the slidingdischarge of the bottle ofl of the rubber cap to speed up the release ofthe merchandise.

The several pivoted bottom travelers or dollies 90 turn with themagazine drum, with their roller or wheel elements 82 riding .on thetrack flange 88 and as each magazine column or vertical magazine section50 approaches the dispensing station or position opposite the mouth ofthe discharge chute 85 (Figs. 4 and 8), moving in a clockwise directionas seen in Fig. 8, the roller 8 portion 92 of the corresponding dollywill ride oil! the end 84 of the main track section 83, therebypermitting the dolly to drop or pivot into the dotted line position seenin Figs. 4 and 8 so that any article of merchandise thereon willgravitate into the discharge chute 85 past the doors l9, and

ultimately into the delivery tray l8.

It may be observed (Fig. 9) that the discharge chute is a casting havingopposite pairs of yokelike flanges 85a supportably embracing portions ofthe door structure.

dolly to be restored to a normal horizontal riding position, by virtueof the fact that the roller 82 of the tilted dolly will ride onto thecurved portion 88 of the track and thus pivot the dolly back into itsnormal position for continuedtravel through another cycle around to thetripping or discharging position.

Driving means for rotating the drum in steps includes (Fig. 5) aperipheral driving element or gear I85 and comprised of'a plurality ofcast Also, the chute casting has a sidewing or flange 85b (Figs. 4 and9) arincludes a driving member or pinion m (Figs. 3

and 5) rotatable about a vertical shaft 5 in the control unit and havingcoin-operated means for coupling or interconnecting the pinion Ill withthe oscillable control handle and drum 25-26, whereby the pinion Ill-isadvanced in unidirectional steps, in the present instance in ananticlockwise direction (it being necessary to oscillate the handle 28from and back to the position shown in Fig. 5), whereby'the ring gear orperipheral driving element I88 .on the magazine drum is correspondinglymoved in steps in a clockwise direction. Each oscillation of the controlhandle 85' is eflective to advance the drum a distance sufllcient toposition the next succeeding magazine column 88 and its'traveling bottomelement or dolly 88 before the dispensing station or position on thetrack 83 in front of the discharge chute 85, whereby to trip the dollyand discharge a vendible object supported thereon mechanism has beenparticularly designed to accommodate vendible articles in thenature ofbot tled beverages provided with'the customary crown cap, and it is afeature of the invention to provide for stacking the vendible articles,whether they be bottles or other package units, one upon another in theseveral magazine compartments or tiers, the lowermost bottle or articleresting upon the platform 90 of the corresponding dolly in allcompartments or tiers save the one oppositethe dispensing position, thelatter exception being hereafter particularly explained. The coincontrol unit 8 is provided with a releasing detent (not shown herein-fordetails see the aforesaid application, Serial No. 198,105) which ismanually operable by the attendant to release the pinion Ill for 'free.movement so that the magazine drum may be turned directly to permitstacking the bottled .or other goods in the several compartments. I

vided the auxiliary track bridge shown in Fig. 11, which is an arcuateplate constituting a section of track 8 long enough to bridge theinterrupted discharge portion of the dollytrack 83. The opposite ends ofthe track bridge are turned vdown to provide clamping fingers III whichfit over the dolly track to hold the bridge in place. By this means, thedrum may be freely rotated to inspect and replenish the magazines,without segments divided at convenient circumferentially spaced points,as for example at I06, each gear segment being attached by a pluralityof screws ll'l extended therethrough into threaded engagement withopposite flange portions 53 of the magazine partitions, the gearassembly being dimensioned to flt flush against these flange portions oraround the drum. The gear segments are preferably cast with arcuatecut-out portions I88 opposite'each magazine compartment so as toaccommodate a circular article in the com- .partment in the regionbehind the inner periphcry of the gear assembly. I

Mounted upon a face plate I I! behind the door in the cabinet I! is acoin control unit H3 preferably of a type such as described and claimedin the United States application of one Joseph Srodulski, Serial No.198,105. Such a control unit any danger of bottles being discharged,since the dollies will simply ride over the gap in the track on thebridge 0.

Means for automatically ti'cles from a higher level to a lower levelonto the dolly or carriage corresponding to the compartment in which thearticle is situated and from which the lowermost article has beendispensed, includes (Fig. 8) a short segmental sustaining flange I28forming a horizontally offset ledge on the lower part of the face platecasting or bracket 2, which is secured to the door frame behind thedoor. 1

The sustaining flange I28 slopes out as at I20 from the vertical part ofthe plate 2 so that the bottles glide onto the ledge instead of droppingabruptly, and is positioned at a level above the dolly track 88 so as tobe engaged by the bottoms of articles or bottles B (e. g., B and C, 1

Fig. 8) at the second level above the track 83, thatis to say, at alevel corresponding to the in the present embodiment of theinvention, Vthe magazine drum and cooperating dispensing To facilitate loading ofthedrum, there is prolowering vendible ary tops of the bottles A restingupon the several dollies.

As the magazine drum is rotated in steps toward the left, (Figs. 8 and10) the retaining flange I projects beneath the bottoms of those bot-vtles at the second level opposite the discharge position, the flangehaving acurved leading edge II6 (Fig. 10) over which the bottles easeonto the ledge, the flange being of a length adequate to support thesecond-level bottles during that portion of their travel across theinterrupted part or tripping section 84 of the track 83 until suchbottles reach a position corresponding to that indicated by the bottleD. By this means, the bottles situated at next higher levels are pre- Ivented from suddenly dropping down or out of the compartments due to"the tripping of corresponding dollies and the discharge of thesupporting bottles from beneath them. 4

Attention is also directed to the fact that the curved leading edgeportion IIB of the sustaining flange I20 is sov proportioned that it isen- 4 gaged' by the tops or necks of the bottles riding intodischarge'position, and is effective to tilt mounted as at I23 to a bossI24 on an end of;

the bracket flange I I2. Downward movement'of the ramp is limited byhearing of the upper pivoted end of the ramp against the endof flangeII2. Thus, as the drum is advanced'and the temporarilysupported bottlesB, C and D approach the ramp arm I22, the several bottles (e. g., thebottle D) ride down the ramp and onto the previously tripped dolly whichhas been restored to upright position by movement across the'curvedrestoring portion 88 of the track. In this manner, all of the secondlevel bottles are temporarily-supported during a part of their cycle oftravel by the offset flange means I20until they have passed over thetripping section of the dolly track, so as to permit the dollies to berestored to normal bottle-supporting position, the temporarily sustainedbottles thereafter being lowered one by one down the ramp I22 and ontothe restored dollies.

Pivotally mounted on the underside of the ramp I22 is a spring-urgedbottle guiding fln which has a gently scooped or curved surface 125a(Fig. 10) providing a means for positively -the marginal-flange portions53 of the compartment partitions has a cut-away portion or slot I21formed therein at the level of the retaining flange I20 to provideclearance for the latter I when the drum rotates.

It will be observed that the foregoing arrangement provides forsuccessively dispensing the articles at the lowermost level andrepresented, for example, by the bottle.A in Fig. 8; with the bottles orarticles at the second level and represented, for example, by the bottleB, automatically transferred to lower level positions to replacedispensed bottles, while the bottles or articles at the higher levelsand represented, for example, by the bottles E and F in Fig. 3 aresuccessively lowered for replacement of the bottles in the second andfirst levels in the order named.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the lower region of thecabinet provides a lower compartment space I30 between the bottom sideof the drum and track plate and the bottommost part of the cabinet inthe region surrounding the lower end of the vertical shaft 65. Thiscompartment provides a precooling chamber into which vendibl'e objectsor bottles may be stored in addition to'those loaded into the magazineso that a stack of refrigerated goods will be im-- mediately availablefor reloading the magazine at such time as may be necessary.

It is contemplated that whenever the reserve stock of goods in theprecooling compartment is transferred to the magazine, replacementobjects or bottles are to be inserted in the precooling compartment atonce, and since these replacement objects or bottles are invariably atroom temperature, it is necessary to prevent too rapid a transfer ofheat between the cooled articles in the magazine and the relatively warmarticles inserted in the precooling compartment. To this end there isprovided a simplebut very effective heat energy reflecting means in theform of a pair of complementary metal reflector panels I32 adapted to bepositioned edge to edge along a center line extending through the shaft65, the confronting edge portion of each reflector panel having asemicircular out near its midpoint adapted to fit closely around theshaft 65 in order to permit the confronting edge portions to fit flush.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the objects in the precoolin-g compartmentare illustrated in dotted lineas bottles, and the heat reflecting meansor panels I32 rest upon the tops of these bottles, it being apparentthat very few bottles are necessary to support these panels so thatshould less than the whole number be removed for any reason prior to acomplete precooling of the bottles, the panels would neverthelessbe'maintained in effective position.

Attention is also called to the fact that the precooling compartment maybe of a size adequate to accommodate stacks of bottles or the likearranged oneupon another, each level of bottles resting on a deflectingpanel means I32 cabinet, the latter being provided with a remov- ,abledome structure permitting easy access to the refrigerating mechanism andat the same time lending a finished appearance to the cabinet structureor housing. The invention further provides improved dispensing mechanismincluding a rotatable magazine of novel construction, characterized inpart by circumferentially spaced vertical compartments formed bypartition members of a specialconstruction clamped between spoked orskeletonized end castingsto permit circulation of air through and aroundthe magazine. The magazine structure further provides novel hanger meansmounting the same for ro tation about a vertical axis so as to minimizethe obstructions at the axial open end portions.

thereof to facilitate the circulation of coolin .air and accommodatecoolingmeans at one end of the magazine and the collection of vendibleobjects to be precooled at the other end of the magazine.

Other objects accomplished by the invention herein disclosed include theprovision of tiltable bottom sections for the magazine compartmentsarranged to ride on a stationary track structure beneath the magazinefor movement successively over interrupted track portions to effect atilting of the bottom members so as to discharge a vendible objecttherefrom.

These and other objects of the invention are preferably accomplished bythe means and in the manner herein specified; however, variousmodifications and rearrangements of the illustrative embodiment setforth herein may be effected without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention, and it is therefore a condition of the presentdisclosure that the invention is not to be restricted to any details ofform, location or operation except asmay be expressly providedhereinafter in the appended claims.

Having thus; described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing machine having a cabinet with refrigerating heatexchange means suspended from its top and a fan above-the heat exchangemeans for directing air downwardly therepast, the combination with saidcabinet and heat exchange means of a dispensing drum of 'skeletonizedconstruction with means for retaining articles about its outer peripheryand mounted in said cabinet for rotation about a vertical axisby journalmeans situated near the opposite axial ends of the drum, the journalmeans near the upper end of the drum being attached to said cabinet at apoint offset from said heat exchange means and the axis of the drum andbeing further oifsetinwardly of the drum so as not to obstruct the upperend of the latter with respect to the heat exchange means,

said upper end of the drum being mounted in close proximity to said heatexchange means.

2'. In a refrigerated dispensing machine of the type including coolingmeans depending from an upper portion of a cabinet adapted to house amagazinedrum and dispensing mechanism coacting therewith, thecombination with said cooling means of a magazine drum and meanssupportably engaging the same for rotation about a vertical axis atpoints adjacent the upper and lower axial. ends thereof, said meansbeing in turn supported by said cabinet and the supporting means at theupper end of the drum fitting down into the drum without substantiallyobstructing passage of air for cooling purposes,

said upper supportingmeans projecting axially out of the end of the drumnear the periphery thereof and projecting in a direction away from theaxis of the drum for supporting engagement with the cabinet as'aforesaid, whereby to leave 'said upper end of the drum unobstructed forthe purpose aforesaid, said upper end of the drum being mounted withrespect to said cooling means so that the latter is disposed close abovesaid portion of the upper' supporting means, which fits down into thedrum as aforesaid.

3. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a cabinet havingcooling means suspended drum being situated close to said refrigeratingopen-work or skeletoniz'ed construction at its ends and sides, and meansmounting the same for rotation about a vertical axis withm said cabinetbelow said cooling means, said drum having an upper end situated closeto said cooling means and bracket means attached to a side por-.

.with a refrigerating coil suspended from the top of a cabinet, of amagazine drum of skeletonized construction and means mounting the sameat top and bottom for rotation about a vertical axis, said meansmounting the drum at the top being offset inwardly of the upper end ofthe drum and having a portion projecting toward and beyond forattachment to said cabinet toward the periphery of the drum, and saidupper end of the coil, and blower means arranged above said coil foroperation to direct air past the same down- I wardlythrough said drum. v

5. The combination, with a refrigerated dispensing machine of the typeincluding a cooling coil mounted near the top of a cabinet and adaptedto cool a magazine, of a magazine in the form of a drum of open-work orskeletonized construction at its ends and sides and adapted to carrymerchandise on said sides, and means joumaling said drum for rotationabout a vertie cal axis in the cabinet'and comprising a vertical shaftmounted at its lower end on' a floor portion in the cabinet, the upperend of the shaft being supportably engaged in a mounting spidersupported by the cabinet and having an offset part disposed below andinclose proximity to said cooling coils, said oflsetpart extendinginto theupper end of said drum and supportably engaging an upper part of saidshaft, fitting over the portion of said spider bracket which is belowsaid foiotleing coils so as to lie in close proximity to the e. In adispensing apparatus or the type ineluding a cabinet with refrigeratingcoils arranged beneath a horizontal support therein,

the combination of a magazine drum and means mounting the same forrotationabout a vertical axis beneath said support, said meanscomprising .a stationary vertical shaft supported at' its lower end insaid cabinet-and supportably engaged near its upper end by an open-workspider bracket having a depending hub portion embracing said upper endof the shaft and divergent arm por- [tions attached to the cabinet in aregion offset from the axisand periphery of the drum, said drumincluding open-work axial end castings at its opposite ends arranged torotate about said shaft with the drum, the upper end casting beingrecessed inwardly of the drum to fit around the depending hub portion ofsaid spider bracket whereby to provide an unobstructed upper end regionfor the drum, said upper end region being 1 spaced in close proximity tosaid coils.

from the top thereof, of a magazine drum of 7. In a refrigerated vdispensing machine, a magazine drum and means mounting the same foroperation relative to heat exchange means arranged axially opposite anend of the drum, said mounting means comprising a stanchion fixed inupright position beneath said heat exchange means and extending upwardlywith said drum disposed thereabove and having an upper axial endsituated above the upper end of the stanchion immediately beneath saidheat exchange means, means spaced relative to the ends of the drum andjournalling the 'same for rotation on said stanchion, said means at theend of the drum near the upper end of the stanchion being disposedsubstantially within the upper end part of the drum, and a spiderbracket extending into said upper end of the drum and supportablyengaging the upper end of said stanchion beneath said heat exchangemeans without materially obstructing passage of air between the latterand said drum.

8. In a dispensing machine, in combination, an

open-top cabinet, a heat insulating closure for said top and adapted tosupport refrigerating mechanism on its upper side, heat exchange meanscooperable with said refrigerating apparatus and mounted on theunderside of said closure, and a magazine drum mounted for rotationabout a vertical shaft in said cabinet and having an open upper enddisposed close beneath said heat exchange means, and skeletonizedbracket means attached to sidewall portions of said cabinet beneath saidtop and offset to extend into said upper end of the drum insubstantially unobstructing condition with respect to passage of heatexchange air into the drum, said drum being of open-work construction inits sides as well as ends, and said bracket means supportably engagingsaid shaft.

TULLY DE STEFANI.

